A magnificent palace with sumptuous interiors and splendid gardens, Versailles represents the glory of Louis XIV's reign. Starting in 1668 with his father's modest hunting lodge, the king commissioned the largest palace in Europe, with 700 rooms, 67 staircases, and 1,800 acres (730 ha) of landscaped parkland. Architect Louis Le Vau built a series of wings that expanded into an enlarged courtyard. They were decorated with marble busts, antique trophies, and gilded roofs. Jules Hardouin-Mansart took over in 1678 and added the two immense north and south wings. He also designed the chapel, which was finished in 1710. Charles le Brun planned the interiors and Andre Le N6tre redesigned the gardens.

Structure of the day_Chateau de Versailles

A magnificent palace with sumptuous interiors...

Image source : http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/bellenglise/versailles/images/ver-1.jpg

A magnificent palace with sumptuous interiors and splendid gardens, Versailles represents the glory of Louis XIV's reign. Starting in 1668 with his father's modest hunting lodge, the king commissioned the largest palace in Europe, with 700 rooms, 67 staircases, and 1,800 acres (730 ha) of landscaped parkland. Architect Louis Le Vau built a series of wings that expanded into an enlarged courtyard. They were decorated with marble busts, antique trophies, and gilded roofs. Jules Hardouin-Mansart took over in 1678 and added the two immense north and south wings. He also designed the chapel, which was finished in 1710. Charles le Brun planned the interiors and Andre Le N6tre redesigned the gardens.

THE GARDENS

Andr~ Le Notre (1613-1700), France's greatest landscape gardener, created magnificent ch~teau gardens. His superb architectural orchestration, Classical vision and sense of symmetry are seen in the sweeping vistas of Versailles, his greatest triumph. lhe gardens are styled 1nto regular patterns of flowerbeds and box hedges, paths and groves, ornate pools of water, and fountains. Geometric paths and shrubberies are features of the formal gardens. The Petit Trianon, a small chateau built as a retreat for L ouis XV, is found in the gardens.

Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Chateau_Versailles_Galerie_des_Glaces.jpg

PURSUIT OF QUEEN MARIE-ANTOINETTE

On 6 October 1789, a Parisian mob invaded Versailles seeking the despised Marie-Antoinette, whose frivolous behaviour had earned her fierce public criticism. The queen fled through the anteroom known as the Oei/-de-Boeuf to the king's rooms. She and the king, Louis XVI, were later removed to Paris by the cheering and triumphant mob.

Marble Courtyard

Paved in black and white marble, this inner courtyard is surrounded by Louis Xlll's old chateau, the fao;ades of which were enhanced by Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart. The three arched windows of the king's first-floor bedroom are fronted by a gilded balcony.

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Royal Courtyard

Separated from the Ministers' Courtyard by elaborate grille work during Louis XIV's reign, this narrow space was accessible only to the royal family.

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louis XIV statue

Erected by Louis-Philippe in 1837, this bronze equestrian statue of the Sun King stands where a gilded gateway once marked the beginning of the Royal Courtyard.

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North Wing

The chapel, opera and picture galleries occupy this wing, which originally housed royal apartments. Masses, concerts and operas are sti II held in this extravagant setting.

INSIDE THE CHATEAU

The lavish man apartments are on the first floor of the vast chateau complex. Around the Marble Courtyard .:re the private apartments of the king and queen. On the garden side are the state apartments, where official court life took place. These were richly decorated by Charles Le Brun with colored marble, stones, and wood carvings, murals, velvet silver and gilded furniture. Starting with the Salon d'Hercule, each state room is dedicated to an Olympian deity. The Salon d'Apollon, dedicated to the god Apollo, was LoLis XIV's ttrone room The dim ax is the Hall of Mirrors, stretcllng 2~ ft (/0 m) along the west fa~de Great state occasions were held in th1s room, where 17 mirrors face tall, arched Windows Another highlight is the ChapeUe Royale, With the first floor rese1ved for the royal family and the ground floor for the court.

RESIDENTS OF VERSAILLES

In 1682, Louis XIV declared Versailles the offid al seat of the French government and court. During his reign, I ife in this sumptuous Baroque pal ace (Baroque S ty/e, seep. 80) was ordered by rigid etiquette. Under Louis XV (171 5-74), it became increasingly opulent with the help of Madame de Pompadour, the king's mistress, who set a taste for elegance that soon spread across Europe.ln 1789, Louis X\11 was forced to leave Versailles when it was invaded by a Revolutionary Parisian mob. The palace was subsequently looted and left until the reign of Louis-Phllippe ( 1830-48), who converted part of it into a museum of French history.

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